{"id":290,"date":"2021-10-28T08:50:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T08:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.proprep.uk\/?p=290"},"modified":"2022-01-04T14:47:04","modified_gmt":"2022-01-04T14:47:04","slug":"mental-health-at-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.proprep.com\/blog\/mental-health-at-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Struggling with poor mental health at university?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I remember looking at older friends\u2019 pictures from university while I was in school with envy. I couldn\u2019t wait to join in the fun. A month into my own time on campus, however, I realised hadn’t thought at all about managing my mental health at university.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d been misled by my friends’ \u2018highlight reel\u2019 of the student experience. Of course nobody uploads photos of them working late into the night, or struggling to connect with strangers, or just going through life without the support system they\u2019d known at home. Another huge thing I hadn\u2019t realised was simply how much time I\u2019d spend on my own if I weren’t proactive about it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student mental health<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The arrival on campus brings amazing new opportunities. However, the upheaval can also leave you vulnerable to struggles with your mental health at university, as you deal with the stresses of adult life for the first time. This situation has been compounded by two years of cancelled social activities and classes held behind a computer screen. In an NUS survey<\/a>, over half of participants said that their mental health had been negatively affected by COVID-19. Less than a third of them had sought help. According to the Office for National Statistics<\/a>, 26% of students reported feeling lonely often or always, compared with 8% of adults in general.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students can experience struggles with all aspects of their mental and emotional health. Triggers that students report include study and work pressures, relationship trouble, homesickness and loneliness, financial worries, and bullying. Anxiety is one of the most commonly-diagnosed mental health problems among students, as well as depression and suicidal feelings.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warning signs for these disorders include things like extreme highs and lows of emotion, changes in eating and sleeping patterns, lack of energy and motivation, or physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues and body pain. However, this checklist isn\u2019t exhaustive at all. If you\u2019re struggling, seek help immediately, regardless of what symptoms you do or do not have.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: SewCream, Shutter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Taking care of your mental health at university<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Go easy on yourself<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mental health struggles can make simple tasks feel overwhelming, so don\u2019t overload yourself<\/a>. It\u2019s not realistic to expect yourself to be productive all the time (especially during the pandemic!), so do what you can in manageable chunks. Good grades are important, but nowhere near as important as your wellbeing. Take care of yourself and seek help when you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining a club or society can be a great way to do something you enjoy and boost your mood. If you meet nice people, it can create a community to fight loneliness or homesickness. However, don\u2019t take too much on \u2013 you don\u2019t have to say yes to every social activity or study group. Make sure to relax and spend time in your own space as well! It can be hard to focus when this living space is untidy, so try to de-clutter. Clean up mess, and open windows to let fresh air in.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s get physical<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your mental health is strongly tied to your physical health, so try to eat as healthily as possible. There are lots of resources online for how to do this cheaply and easily. Exercising might be the last thing you feel like doing when your energy is low. Nonetheless, just 15 minutes of movement can make a huge impact on your mood, especially if you manage to spend the time outdoors. With impending deadlines and nights out, it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll be getting the recommended eight hours of sleep. However, try to establish a healthy pattern when you can. And when you do go out, remember to drink sensibly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know you best<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Find outlets that work for you \u2013 this could be running, baking, arts and crafts or something else. Do whatever you know will lift your mood and calm you down. Keeping in touch with friends you had before you got to campus is a good way to maintain your social interactions. It can also be a helpful reminder that a world exists beyond your university (sometimes easy to forget!). There are lots of apps out there that can help with mental health struggles, like Headspace, Calm and Worrytree.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important advice is to seek support early if you\u2019re ever struggling with your mental health at university. Don\u2019t leave it until you\u2019re at crisis point \u2013 there are lots of people and services out there that have your back.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: fizkes, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What help is available?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It can be hard to open up to family and friends about how you\u2019re feeling, but it can also be a huge relief. Don\u2019t feel like a burden; your loved ones are there to help you and hear you out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out what support is available through your university, contact student services or look on their website. Your university\u2019s wellbeing service can provide a listening ear and signpost you towards more services. These might include appointments with dedicated mental health advisors, drop-in counselling or mindfulness sessions, and support groups. Some institutions have their own phone helpline, de-stressing sports activities, and animal therapy sessions!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re seriously worried about your mental health, it\u2019s essential that you visit a doctor. They can give you a medical diagnosis and a referral to appropriate services. If you think it\u2019s affecting your work, have a chat with your personal tutor or somebody in charge of your pastoral care. You can express your concerns and make a plan for the future. Once when I was going through something hard as a student, I spoke to my tutor even though I hadn\u2019t felt any negative impacts yet, just to flag it up. You can also apply for mitigating or extenuating circumstances for any exams or coursework you think could be affected.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organisations such as the Mental Health Foundation, Mind, Papyrus, Sane and Student Minds provide excellent advice and guidance. There are also multiple free support lines that you can call at any time to talk about anything that’s getting to you. Call the Samaritans at 116 123, or text \u2018SHOUT\u2019 to 85258.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I remember looking at older friends\u2019 pictures from university while I was in school with envy. I couldn\u2019t wait to join in the fun. A month into my own time on campus, however, I realised hadn’t thought at all about managing my mental health at university. I\u2019d been misled by my friends’ \u2018highlight reel\u2019 of … <\/p>\n

Read more “Struggling with poor mental health at university?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[15,22,23,9,14,8],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStruggling with poor mental health at university? | Proprep<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Student life comes with big emotional highs and lows. 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